Kalanchoe plant named ‘Kaluna’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Kalanchoe  plant named ‘Kaluna’, characterized by its compact, upright and uniform growth habit; freely branching plant habit; dark green-colored leaves; uniform, freely and early flowering habit; red-colored flowers; and excellent postproduction longevity.

Botanical Designation: Kalanchoe blossfeldiana.

Cultivar Denomination: ‘KALUNA’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Kalanchoe, botanically known as Kalanchoe blossfediana, and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Kaluna’.

The new Kalanchoe is a naturally-occurring whole plant mutation of the Kalanchoe blossfeldiana cultivar Kawi, not patented. The cultivar ‘Kaluna’ was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a flowering plant from within a population of plants of the cultivar Kawi in a controlled greenhouse environment in De Lier, The Netherlands in 2002.

Asexual reproduction of the new Kalanchoe by vegetative terminal cuttings in a controlled environment in De Lier, The Netherlands since 2002, has shown that the unique features of this new Kalanchoe are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar ‘Kaluna’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental and cultural practices such as temperature, daylength and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Kaluna’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Kaluna’ as a new and distinct cultivar of Kalanchoe:

-   -   1. Compact, upright and uniform growth habit.     -   2. Freely branching plant habit.     -   3. Dark green-colored leaves.     -   4. Uniform, freely and early flowering habit.     -   5. Red-colored flowers.     -   6. Excellent postproduction longevity.

Plants of the new Kalanchoe can be compared to plants of the parent, the cultivar Kawi. Plants of the new Kalanchoe differ from plants of the cultivar Kawi in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Kalanchoe are more compact than plants of         the cultivar Kawi.     -   2. Plants of the new Kalanchoe have smaller leaves than plants         of the cultivar Kawi.     -   3. Plants of the new Kalanchoe have slightly smaller flowers         than plants of the cultivars Kawi.     -   4. Plants of the new Kalanchoe and the cultivar Kawi differ in         flower color as plants of the cultivar Kawi have pinkish         red-colored flowers.

Plant of the new Kalanchoe can be compared to plants of the Kalanchoe blossfeldiana cultivar Kerinci, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 10,031. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in De Lier, The Netherlands, plants of the new Kalanchoe differed from plants of the cultivar Kerinci in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Kalanchoe were not as vigorous as plants of         the cultivar Kerinci.     -   2. Plants of the new Kalanchoe had smaller leaves than plants of         the cultivar Kerinci.     -   3. Plants of the new Kalanchoe had smaller flowers than plants         of the cultivar Kerinci.     -   4. Plants of the new Kalanchoe and the cultivar Kerinci differed         in flower color as plants of the cultivar Kerinci had         pink-colored flowers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying colored photograph illustrates the overall appearance of the new Kalanchoe, showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photograph my differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Kalanchoe. The photograph comprises a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘Kaluna’ grown in a container.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photograph and following observations, measurements and values described plants grown in De Lier, The Netherlands in a glass-covered greenhouse during the autumn and under conditions which closely approximate commercial production. During the production of the plants, day and night temperatures ranged from 19° C. to 26° C., night temperatures ranged from 20° C. to 21° C. and light levels ranged from 10,000 lux to 60,000 lux. Unrooted cuttings were directly stuck in 10-cm containers and received long day/short night conditions (more than 14 hours of light) for about four weeks; plants then received photoinductive short day/long night conditions (minimum 14 hours darkness) until flowering. Plants were about 16 weeks old when the photograph and the description were taken. In the detailed description, color references are made to The Royal Horticutural Society Colour Chart, 1995 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Kalanchoe blossfeldiana cultivar ‘Kaluna’. -   Parentage: Naturally-occurring whole plant mutation of the Kalanchoe     blossfediana Kawi, not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By vegetative terminal cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About ten days at             temperatures of 21° C.         -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About 14 days at             temperatures of 21° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About three             weeks at temperatures of 21° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About four             weeks at temperatures of 21° C.         -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous; greyish white in color.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; dense. -   Plant Description:     -   -   Plant habit.—Compact, upright and uniform growth habit. Very             freely flowering with numerous compound cymes. Inverted             triangle with rounded crown. Appropriate for 10-cm to 15-cm             container. Moderately vigorous growth habit.         -   Plant height at flowering.—About 20 cm.         -   Plant diameter at flowering.—About 16 cm.         -   Branching habit.—Freely branching, usually about seven to             nine lateral branches develop per plant. Pinching (removal             of the terminal apex) is not required but will enhance             lateral branch development. -   Lateral Branch Description:     -   -   Length.—About 13 cm to 17 cm.         -   Diameter.—About 3 mm to 6 mm.         -   Internode length.—About 2 cm to 4 cm.         -   Aspect.—Erect.         -   Strength.—Moderately strong.         -   Texture.—Smooth, glabrous.         -   Color.—137B. -   Foliage Description:     -   -   Arrangement.—Opposite, simple, generally symmetrical.         -   Quantity per plant.—About 10 to 15 mature leaves and about             16 to 25 generative leaves.         -   Length.—About 9.5.         -   Width.—7.5 cm.         -   Shape.—Elliptic.         -   Apex.—Acute to obtuse.         -   Base.—Acute.         -   Margin.—Crenate.         -   Texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Smooth, glabrous,             leathery; succulent.         -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate.         -   Color.—Developing and fully developed foliage, upper             surface: 137A; venation, 137A to 137B.         -   Petiole.—Length: About 1.6 cm. Diameter: About 4 mm to 8 mm.             Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth glabrous. Color,             upper and lower surfaces: Between 147A to 147B and 137A. -   Flower Description:     -   -   Flower arrangement and habit.—Flowers arranged singly in             compound dichasial cymes that arise from leaf axils. Uniform             and freely flowering habit with usually about 25 open             flowers and about 25 flower buds per lateral branch and more             than 200 open flowers and flower buds per plant. Flowering             continuously for at least seven weeks. Flowers persistent.             Flowers not fragrant. Natural flowering season: Plant of the             new Kalanchoe initiate and develop flowers under short             day/long night conditions or during the late             autumn/winder/early spring. Flower initiation and             development can also be induced under artificial short             day/long conditions (at least 14 hours of darkness).         -   Time to flower.—Early flowering habit; under short day/long             night photoinductive conditions, about eight to twelve weeks             are required. Actual time to flower is primarily dependent             upon temperature and light intensity.         -   Post-production longevity.—Excellent post-production             longevity; plants maintain good foliage and flower substance             for about 45 days under interior environmental conditions.             Individual flowers last about 20 days on the plant.         -   Flower diameter.—About 1.6 cm.         -   Flower length (height).—About 1.4 cm.         -   Flower bud.—Shape: Initially oblong, becoming tubular ovoid             with development. Length: About 9 mm. Diameter: About             2.5 mm. Color: 138C; becoming closer to 49D with             development.         -   Petals.—Arrangement: four fused at the base. Length: About             8 mm. Width: About 5 mm. Aspect: Flat to partially upright.             Shape: Ovate. Apex: Acute. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper             and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color: When opening,             upper surface: 46A. When opening, lower surface: 46B. Fully             opened, upper surface: 46C color becoming closer to 46D with             development. Fully opened, lower surface: Between 49A and             50D.         -   Sepals.—Appearance: Four fused at the base. Length: About             6 mm. Width: About 2.5 mm. Shape: Oblong, pointed. Apex.             Acute. Base. Obtuse. Margin: Entire. Aspect: Upright.             Texture, upper and lower surfaces; Smooth; glabrous. Color,             upper and lower surfaces: 138D.         -   Peduncles.—Length: About 3 to 5 mm. Diameter: About 1 mm.             Aspect: Erect. Strength: Strong. Texture: Smooth, glabrous.             Color: 138B.         -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Stamen number: About eight             per flower. Anther shape: Elliptic, flat. Anther length:             About 0.3 mm. Anther color: Color to 150D. Amount of pollen:             Scarce. Pollen color: Close to 12A. Gynoecium: Pistil             number: About four per flower. Pistil length: About 1 cm.             Style length: About 1 mm. Style color: 138D. Stigma shape:             Flat. Stigma color: 8D. Ovary color: 138D.         -   Seed.—Length: About 0.1 mm. Diameter: About 0.05 mm. Color:             Close to 166C. -   Temperature Tolerance: Plants of the new Kalanchoe have been     observed to tolerate temperatures from about 12° C. to about 35° C. -   Pathogen/Pest Resistance: Plants of the new Kalanchoe have not been     observed to be resistant to pest and pathogens common to Kalanchoes. 

1. A new and distinct Kalanchoe plant named ‘Kaluna’ as illustrated and described. 